The Sunday List; a weekly column

By: Alexis Shoats

Sundays are the perfect day of the week. Sunday brunch, lazily lounging in bed, or if you’re an early riser, I can imagine you’ve stepped out for your coffee and newspaper. We hope you took care of most of your errands on Saturday (Sunday is off limits to errands outside of going to the farmers market). So what makes the perfect Sunday, and how do you ward off any negative energy heading into the week? Welcome to The Sunday List. 

What are you eating?

Food is a big part of this day. Not that this day scientifically requires you to have the best meals of the week, but remember, we are goal setting. A great breakfast, brunch, or dinner can really help your mood. For this week’s newsletter, let’s talk about breakfast. The first thing you should focus on is breakfast. If you don’t have the best Sunday breakfast, you might as well throw the entire day away. Here is one of my recommendations:

Anda Bhujari 

This dish is an Indian-style scrambled eggs. The dish is packed with so many flavors that it is guaranteed to become your favorite way to cook eggs. Here’s a recipe by Nik Sharma, founder of A Brown Table. As a biologist and best-selling cookbook author, Nik explores the intersection of science and food to yield the most flavor in the kitchen.  

Ingredients: 

1 small/about 150 g red onion, halved and thinly sliced

1 small green chilli such as Bird’s eye, minced

1 in/2.5 cm piece fresh ginger, peeled and cut into thin matchsticks

1 garlic clove, grated or thinly sliced

1/2 Tbsp garam masala, homemade or store-bought

1/2 tsp ground turmeric

1/2 tsp red pepper flakes, such as Aleppo

2 Tbsp fresh cilantro, chopped

fine sea salt

2 Tbsp ghee or unsalted butter

2 Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil

6 large eggs

Toasted bread or flatbread like rotis, parathas to serve

Instructions: 

1. Toss the onion, chilli, ginger, garlic, garam masala, turmeric, red pepper, and cilantro in a medium mixing bowl with 1 tsp salt. Leave aside for 5 minutes.

2. Whisk the eggs in a large bowl with a pinch of salt.

3.  Melt the ghee or butter in a cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat. If using butter, cook until the milk solids start to turn golden brown, and the liquid stops crackling. Add the olive oil.

4.  Add the onion mixture with any liquids to the skillet and sauté until the onions turn soft and translucent, 3 to 4 minutes.

5. Reduce the heat to medium-low and add the eggs. Stir with a silicone spatula and cook until the eggs turn soft and crumbly; they should not be custardy like French-style scrambled eggs or overcooked and rubbery, 4 to 5 minutes. Remove from the heat. Taste and season with salt if needed. Serve hot with buttered toast or flatbread. Leftovers are best eaten the day this dish is made, but can be stored in an airtight container for up to 2 days.

   
   

   Now, Relax

   
   

Truly suggest doing something fun or relaxing to stimulate your mind before the work week begins. I know we are all cracking open our laptops at 7 pm the night before we go back to work, but Monday will be there regardless, and you can only prep so much. You don’t want to start an early burnout. This doesn’t have to be a full production, and to be honest, you don’t have to leave the house either! Use this time to pick up your favorite hobby or read that book you have been meaning to pick up. It is Pride Month, so here are a few of my suggestions!

Book suggestions for Pride Month: 

• Harriet Tubman Live In Concert by Bob the Drag Queen 

• A Burst of Light: And Other Essays by Audre Lorde 

• Walk Like A Girl by Prabal Gurung

To cap off the night or while you enjoy your dinner, I like to watch an episode of a TV show. Sometimes it's a show I'm currently invested in or it's a comfort show.  Tonight season 3 of The Gilded Age premires on HBO, and I will absolutely be seated for it.

I hope this week is better than the last for you. 

Alexis Shoats 

Editor - In - Chief